A few weeks back I blogged at length about the search for a replacement for my old Ellington backpack (discontinued by the manufacturer). I continued to browse both backpacks and messenger backs, from el-cheapo travel gear to massively overpriced designer bags in sumptuous pebble leather. Without any luck. I'm currently using a cheap but well-organized messenger bag that Zorg squinted at and termed "very '80s." (I think it's the thin leather).
Today, I spotted a great dressy backpack. In leather, no less. It was on the back of a woman at the Anthony's Oyster Festival. Turns out the bag is made by Libaire, a small leather goods company in California that I'd never come across in any of my online or in-store searching.
But, sure enough, there's a Libaire site, with a full catalog, online; the bag comes in a choice of some traditional colors, plus a choice of brass or nickle zipper pulls. I've saved a search for it on eBay, but if a nice one doesn't turn up in a few weeks, I'll probably break down and buy it retail.
Showing posts with label backpack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label backpack. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Bitchin' about bags
Two years ago I bought an Ellington black microfiber backpack-style purse at eBags.com. It had received rave reviews from dozens of users who praised its looks and durability -- in particular, the silver linings that make it possible to see what you've put into the three zipper compartments.
The Ellington bag arrived, and it exceeded even its advance publicity. I realized I needed to purchase a duplicate immediately.
But, of course, the highly rated bag was no longer available. I wrote to eBags, and they wrote back, apologizing but noting that the manufacturer had discontinued the model.
I checked and discovered that Ellington now offered a more casual pack-style purse that looked like something you'd lug on a weekend trip, not take to a business meeting. After more than a year of searching in vain for the nicer, original bag at discount sites and on eBay, I gave up and began hunting for a replacement bag. The plan was to get either a similar backpack purse or a shoulder bag with multiple compartments.
In the past few months I've looked at thousands of bags, and have bought (and returned) a couple. My beloved backpack purse is showing increasing signs of wear, and I'm getting a little anxious.
Though I haven't found a bag I like, I now speak fluent "purse." I know that what I want is described as:
My problem seems to be that all the bags that meet my criteria are "totes," which by definition have two short handles rather than a long shoulder strap. The bags with the long shoulder straps turn out to be either:
As my dad used to say, "Sheesh!"
The Ellington bag arrived, and it exceeded even its advance publicity. I realized I needed to purchase a duplicate immediately.
But, of course, the highly rated bag was no longer available. I wrote to eBags, and they wrote back, apologizing but noting that the manufacturer had discontinued the model.
I checked and discovered that Ellington now offered a more casual pack-style purse that looked like something you'd lug on a weekend trip, not take to a business meeting. After more than a year of searching in vain for the nicer, original bag at discount sites and on eBay, I gave up and began hunting for a replacement bag. The plan was to get either a similar backpack purse or a shoulder bag with multiple compartments.
In the past few months I've looked at thousands of bags, and have bought (and returned) a couple. My beloved backpack purse is showing increasing signs of wear, and I'm getting a little anxious.
Though I haven't found a bag I like, I now speak fluent "purse." I know that what I want is described as:
- a shoulder bag
- north-south (that means vertical)
- with a platform (that means a flat bottom) - at least 3" deep
- with an extruded exterior zip pocket (you could fit a wallet and Treo into it)
- with an exterior slip pocket (no clasp - you can slide a brochure into it)
- with a top zip main compartment (secure, but no flap to fuss with)
- with an interior zip compartment (security in the main compartment)
- It should not be a shapeless sack.
- It should not be a rigid box.
- It should not look like an overstuffed couch somebody sat on and squashed in the middle.
- It should not look like part of a cowboy costume.
- It should not look like it's been active in the bondage scene.
- It should not remind anyone of a lime green daschund.
My problem seems to be that all the bags that meet my criteria are "totes," which by definition have two short handles rather than a long shoulder strap. The bags with the long shoulder straps turn out to be either:
- vast, undivided pits into which your possessions vanish (you know what I mean -- the kind women rummage frantically in while everyone around them rolls their eyes);
- narrow leather envelopes-on-a-strap into which you can slip maybe a couple credit cards and some charge slips (keys would make an unsightly lump); or
- sealed with a big, heavy, flap so you need two hands free to get anything into or out of them.
As my dad used to say, "Sheesh!"
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